Operation Border Health (OBH) in South Texas was initiated with the aim of enhancing health preparedness along the border region. Its history traces back to its inception in response to the healthcare challenges faced by communities in South Texas. OBH has evolved significantly, thanks to the collaborative efforts of various partners and stakeholders.
Initially launched to address critical health needs, OBH has since expanded its scope to provide a comprehensive range of services. Partnering with organizations such as the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), healthcare providers, and community organizations, OBH has been able to offer public health services to underserved populations in the region.
Through OBH, residents of South Texas have gained access to immunizations, preventive dental care, vision and hearing screenings, and other essential healthcare services. Its enduring mission is to ensure that all individuals in the border region receive the necessary medical attention and resources to maintain their well-being and resilience in the face of health challenges.
Remote Area Medical (RAM) provides pop-up medical clinics across the United States, delivering quality dental, vision, and general medical care at no cost to patients. RAM clinics operate as follows:
Services include:
Dental: At RAM’s free pop-up clinics, patients receive dental cleanings, fillings, extractions, and dental X-rays. For many, this is their only access to vital dental care.
Vision: RAM patients can undergo eye exams, eye health evaluations, receive eyeglass prescriptions, and select frames for on-site fabrication in our mobile vision lab.
Medical: All RAM patients have access to various medical services based on clinic volunteer specialties, including podiatrists, family doctors, women’s health, and more.
All services are provided free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. No ID is required.
Comprised of three branches of the military in Texas: the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard. They have been actively involved in Operation Lone Star (OLS) and Operation Border Health (OBH), primarily offering medical services, security/crowd control, and communications support.
Initially called Operation Lone Star, the operation’s name was later changed to Operation Border Health Preparedness (OBHP) in the year 2022. In 2025, the word “Preparedness” has now been dropped, leaving it as Operation Border Health. OBH started in 1999 as a request for training in South Texas by the US Navy and Marine Corps Reserves to Dr. Brian Smith at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Due to limited healthcare access along the border, DSHS used OBH to offer essential medical services to underserved South Texas residents.
Dr. Brian Smith, the Regional Medical Director for DSHS Health Service Region 11, collaborated with DSHS and the US Navy to coordinate Operation Border Health’s services. Over time, the program grew in popularity and gained more support from agencies across Texas and the federal government. This expansion allowed Operation Border Health to offer a wider range of services, including immunizations, preventive dental care, and vision/hearing screenings.
25TH ANNIVERSARY
2025 marked a significant milestone for Operation Border Health (OBH) as we celebrated our 25th anniversary of dedicated service to the border communities of South Texas. For a quarter of a century, OBH has been at the forefront of enhancing health preparedness and providing vital medical services to those in need along the border region.
As we commemorate this milestone, we reflect on the remarkable journey of OBHP and its impact on the lives of countless individuals and families. From humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of border health initiatives, OBH has remained steadfast in its mission to promote health equity and resilience in our communities.
Los Fresnos High School
907 N. Arroyo Blvd, Los Fresnos, Texas
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Monday – Thursday
Phone: 956 247-3685
Email: andrea.gomez@co.cameron.tx.us
Joe. G. Rivera & Aurora de la Garza | Cameron County Annex Building
1390 W. Expressway 83
San Benito, Texas 78586
Ph: 956 247-3685
